Apparatus for treating box blanks



July 8, 1952 PERlLLl APPARATUS FOR TREATING BOX BLANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 11, 1950 fizwrzzar 41 6,1210 y ,MMY g July 8, 1952 L. PERlLLl APPARATUS FOR TREATING BOX BLANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 11, 1950 fiwezzfar lagzlsg erz'l' & 4% MMYW L M M July 8, 1952 L. PERILLI 2,602,416

APPARATUS FOR TREATING BOX BLANKS Filed Dec. 11, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 8, 1952 PERlLLl 2,602,416

APPARATUS FOR TREATING BOX BLANKS Patented July 8, 1952 UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE v I b e 2,602,416

' 1 APPARATUS For; TREATING BOX BLANKS v "Louis Perllli,Waltham, Mass. ,1 Athenian December 11,1950,SerlalNo. 200,156

I 16 Claims.

This invention relates to paper box manufacture and more especially to apparatus for treating flat box blanks preparatory to setting them up for the application of glue to appropriate portions thereof and permanent sealing of the parts so to form a completed receptacle. ,Toiacilitateshipping ands'torage it is a commonfpractice forbox manufacturers to supply boxes, to their customers in blank form of such construction that by relativelyfsimple operations, such as exerting pressure on the sides and/or ends, the blank will take the form of a com.- pleted receptacle in which the sides and ends bear their proper relation to the bottom, which is generally perpendicular. After erection of the sides and ends it is necessary'in at least some kindsfof boxes, to applyglue or some other suitable adhesive to the corner structure to fix, the parts permanently in place. Many kinds of boxes must be coated with material of a waterproof nature to preventthe paper board from soaking up liquid and/or coloring matter from thefo'od products packed therein, and usually the coating is applied by the blank manufacturer, no provision being inade to omit the coating from the areas to'which the adhesive will later have to be applied in the setting up operation. Hence, when the customer receives the blanks it is up to him to remove the coating where the parts are to'be glued so that they will adhere properly. As a hand operation, this is costly and is a bottleneck in the productive capacity of the food packer. The principal object of'the present invention is to provide a machine for operating on precoated blanks of the foregoing kind to remove the offending coating at such places as must be coatedwith adhesivev Other objects are to provide a machine which is capable of high production, may be operated without attendance other than to replenish it with blanks. when they are exhausted, which-is simple and inexpensive to operate, in which adjustments can be made to accommodate a large range of box sizes, and which has parts which'may be substituted for operating upon different portions of blanks and portions of different size and shape in accordance with the type of the blank. "Still further objects are to'provide improved feeding means for advancing the blanks from a pile of blanks to the place of operation. Y

The invention'will now be described in greater etail with reference to ,the accompanying drawings wherein: l I j Fig. l-i's a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 21s a side elevation with portions of the supporting frame and the rear part of the machine broken away;

Fig". 2a is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of a box blank at one corner;

Fig. 2b is an end elevation of the blank erected;

Fig. 2c is a horizontal section on the line 20 -20 of Fig; 211;

"Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; 7

Fig.4 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 to somewhat larger scale and of the left-hand side;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinalvertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the stop elevating means;

and

Fig. 7 is a plan elements.

While flat box blanks'of various kinds may be processed in this machine by a simple substitution of the heating elements which will be described hereinafter, for convenience and for the purpose of illustration only, the machine will be described as fitted for operating upon a blank of the kind shown in Figs. 2a, 2b and 20. As

view of one of the heating there shown, the blank has a flat bottom b, side and end walls wand corner' flaps f. The blank is erected by folding the side and end walls upwardly at right angles to the bottom on score lines o and folding the flap f at right angles to the side wall for engagement with the outside of the end wall. Preferably the flap 1 before being folded inwardly, is itself folded along a diagonal d so that its outer triangular surface engages a corresponding triangular outer portion of the end wall (Fig. 2b). As thus constructed. the triangular areas ti and t2 which are to have contact are adjacent, and both are onthe same side of the blank. The heating elements employed herein will have surfaces of triangular shape corresponding in area to the combined areas ti and t2 and when the blank is held therebetween the paraffin will be vaporized so as to leave these areas at both sides of the blank clean and in condition to receive an application of adhesive.

Referring to j the drawings, and in particular to Fig. 2, the machine is shown as consisting essentially of a frame III which supports means 12' forremoving the coating from the box corners, and means 14 for feeding box blanks successively to the coating removing means.

The frame is substantially rectangular and consists of spaced parallel plates l6 having spaced supporting legs l8, the plates being rigidly connected by suitable cross bracing 26 at various places lengthwise of the machine (Fig. 1) and other transversely extending members such as shafts carrying operating parts of the machine.

Resting horizontally on two of the cross braces 2626 (Fig. 5) are a pair of channel bars 22-22 to the ends of which are fastened keepers 24 (Fig. 2), each of which projects downwardly over the edge of a cross brace so'that the bars 22 are held to the cross braces -28, but are slidable transversely thereof between the frame plates is. Independent transverse movement of the bars 22 is effected by traverse screws (Figs. 1 and 3) passing through threaded holes in the bars 22. laterally from the bars through journals 32 set into the side walls is which permit rotation of the screws but prevent longitudinal movement thereof, and have at their outer extremities holes through which may be placed handles 35 for rotation of the screws.

On each of the bars 22 near its ends are spaced parallel uprights 36 (Fig. 4.) which are secured thereto or formed integral therewith. A rail 38 is fastened in a horizontal position between the upper ends of the uprights 36 at each side of the machine at the inside of the uprights and each rail has on its under side a track 40 which is parallel to the upper surface of the channel bar 22 below it. A track 42 is fixed to the upper surface of each bar 22 below the track 42 and parallel thereto, but offset inwardly therefrom. .Between each pair of vertical spaced tracks 40 and :12 there is mounted for movement longitudinally of the machine a carriage. Each carriage consists of a frame having end members 44 (Fig. 2) rigidly joined by vertically spaced, longitudinally extending bars 46. The upper ends of the end members 44 have open grooves 46 slidably embracing the tracks 46. Fixed to the inside of the lower bars 46 of the frame at opposite sides of the machine are stub shafts 56 on which are mounted wheels 52 having flanged peripheries which embrace the tracks 42. The Wheels are loose on the stub shafts 5i! and provide for longitudinal movement of the carriages. Fast to the outside of each lower bar 46 is a horizontal, outwardly projecting bracket 54. Inwardly of each frame there is situated a narrow horizontally disposed plate 56 which extends longitudinally of the machine and has at its opposite ends outwardly projecting legs 58 which are hinged to the outer ends ofthe brackets 54 at 60. Thus the plates are free to move upwardly. Each plate 56 has on its upper surface a pair of clamps 63 and a pair of heating elements 62, the latter being connected by suitable flexible cables '64 to an appropriate source of electric power by way of a switch 66. Each clamp consists of a base 10 on which is yieldably mounted a clamp plate 12 of triangular shape (Fig. '7). The surfaces of both the clamps and heating elements are roughened as by knurling and their geometrical shape, while shown herein as triangular, may be varied to suit the particular conditions encountered. Springs 14 normally hold the clamps 12 spaced from the block ill but will yield under pressure. Each heating element consists of a base 65 within which is a resistance element and a heating plate 61 heated by the resistance element.

The clamps and heating elements have on their under sides threaded studs H which extend down through slots 68 extending lengthwise, of the plates so that the clamps and heating ele- The traverse screws 36 extend" ments may be adjusted lengthwise of the machine and adjusted with respect to each other to vary their spacing. Above each clamp and heating element there is arranged a complementary heating element and clamp respectively, these latter being mounted on the frame as follows. A plate it; having a leg 86 at each end is fast to the upper bar 46 at each side of the machine so as to extend horizontally. inwardly therefrom parallel to the plates 56. Each of the plates 18 has a longitudinal slot 8| and the heating elements and clamps .are mounted on the under side of the plate in thesame manner as the clamps 63 and heating elements 62 are attached to the plate 56. Thus each bottom heating element has above it a clamp and each top heater has below it a clamp. Theheaters and clamps are, however, movable longitudinally so that they may be positioned directly above the clamps and heaters below them. As thus mounted, all eight of the clamps and heating elements may be moved bodily lengthwise of the machine, the eight members at one side of the machine may be moved to and from the eight members at the other side of the machine, the upper and lower elements at each side maybe moved to and from each other independently and the lower elements may be moved vertically into engagement with the upper elements. Vertical movement of the lower elements into engagement with the upper elements is effected in timed relation with the blank feeding means as will hereinafter appear. Since both the clamps and'heating elements are bolted in place, it is evident that they may be replaced by clamps and heating elements of different shape or size when blanks of different kinds are to be processed. In fact, when the coating is to be removed from only one side, clamps may be substituted for the heating elements at the opposite side.

The box blank feeding means I4 consists of an inclined table (Figs. 1 and 2) on which blanks may rest for feeding. As illustrated, the table is comprised of a pair of spaced rails 82 pivotally mounted at one end on a horizontal rod 64 fixed between the walls l6 so as to be inclined rearwardly and upwardly. Spanning the rails 841s a fiat plate 85 on which there are mounted spaced transversely adjustable guide walls 86 between which the blanks may be placed. Traverse screws 8! (Fig. 1) journaled in the rails 82 and engaged with lugs 83 fixed to the guide walls 86 provide-means for adjusting the guide walls to and from each other. A slot 81 extending across the table permits movement of the'lugs which extend upwardly therethrough.

Forwardly of the feed table there'is mounted a horizontal shaft 68 journaledat'its ends in the side walls IS, on which there is a. blank feeder 90 consisting of a pair of spaced parallel discs 92 (Fig. 3) fixed to the .Sh'aftj 8 8 Each of the discs 92 has projecting laterally from its rim 2. pin 94 on which there is hinged anjarcuate shoe 96 having substantially the same radius of curvature as the discs. The rim' of each disc isgcut away so that the shoe-fits i he substantially flush with the of each shoe has on its projecting pin 9.8, theinne. freely through an ear I! p A A spring I02 is placed about the pinlbggjei' ear and the shoe, and yieldablyhgids end of the shoe raised rm the pen 1i face thereof. The discs are 5 locate ing rotation thereof. thejQshoes -25 are wired across the inner end 01' the "delivery tablelj so as tojengage a blank resting thereon to drag it forwardly. The shoes 96 preferably have a coating of soft rubber applied thereto so as to improve theirfrictional grip on the blanks. The shoesas theyengage the blanks, yield, however the springs are strong enough so that they afford a positive frictional engagement with the blanks and yet yield to accidental movement of two or more blanks should they be dragged through at the same time, thus avoiding damage to the parts and also the need for fine adjustment. The rims of the discs are also coated with rubber.

Forwardly of the feed discs there is mounted a pair of cooperating feeding members for engagement with the upper and lower surfaces of the blank as they are drawn forwardly by the feeddiscs. The upper member consists of a pair of spaced rolls I04 fixed to a shaft I05 and the lower consists of a continuous roll I06 fixed to a shaft I08. The shaft I05 has a gear H0 at one end and the shaft I08 has a gear H2 at one end, by which the shafts are driven in opposite directions. r a

Extending from the feed members rearwardly between the heating elements and horizontally midway between'them'is a longitudinally extending'channel I I6 having upright spaced parallel walls I I8 between which are fixed a plurality'of spaced parallel shafts I20 on each of which is loosely mounted a pair of spaced rollers I22. The ends of the channel rest on and are fast to transverse bars I24, one of which is shown in Fig. 5. An endless'belt I26 is entrained about the lower feed roll I06, the latter having a peripheral groove in which the belt lies so as to be fiush with its surface and its upper run extending along tangent to and supportedby the upper surfaces of the rolls I22. Thelower run hangs below the channel. The opposite end of the belt runs over an idle roller (not shown) and motion is imparted to the belt by the roller I06. 'Just above the upper run of the belt I26 and'the channel II6 there is fixed a horizontal rod I28 on which there is mounted a yoke I30. A block I32 is suspended within the yoke for tilting movement about a horizontal axis I33 and has a vertical pocket I34 within it in which is situated a vertically movable plate I36. Nearv the opposite ends of the plate Il36in the portion exposed below the block I32 there are fixed twoshafts I38 on the ends of which the loosely mountedroller I40. The plate I36 is cutaway within'the pocket and a spring I42 is interposed between it and the inner top of the blockso that the rolls I40 are yieldably pressed downwardly into engagement with the upper runof the belt I26. Rearwardly of the rolls I40 there is a rail I44 suspended by brackets I46 (Figs. 1 and 2) from a pair of cross rods I48, the opposite ends of which in groups of four on blocks I60 spaced along the under side of the rail I44. Each block I60 is yieldably held, between flanges I62 extending downwardly from therail and each block has at itsends shafts on which are freely,;mounted the rollers; The rollers press the. lower; run of the belt I56 a ain thw per, run of t e belt, The rearend of the belt I56 is entrained over a driven pulley (not shown) which imparts continuous motiontothe belt. andprovision is made for keeping the runs taut by means of a belt tightener of conventional form.

The rail I44 forwardly of the forward support I48 is divided and pivotally supported on a horizontal pin I64 (Fig. 2). This portion of the rail, and hence the rollers I58, carried thereby, are pressed downwardly against the upper run of the belt by a stiff flat spring I66, one end of which is anchored beneath the bracket I46. The downward pressure of the spring against the rail can be varied by adjustment of a screw I68 threaded through the forward end of the spring and bearing against the rail.

7 Box blanks are advanced from the hopper by the combined action of the feed discs 90, the cooperating feed rolls I04 and I06 and the cooperating traveling belt I26 and rollers I40 to and between the clamps and heating elements which at the proper time are brought together to engage the blanks and by heating the portions of the blank with which they make contact, to a high temperature, vaporize the coating so as to remove it. The blanks must be accurately stopped in registry with the heating elements so that when the latter are brought into contact therewith they will engage the blank at the proper positions. To this end there is provided a pair of spaced fingers I10 (Fig. 5). The fingers I10 stand upright at the opposite sides of the belt and are fast at theirlower ends to longitudinally extending bars I12. The forward ends of the bars I12 arepivotally joined at I14 to'upright arms I 16, the latter being fast to a horizontal shaft I18, the ends of which are fixed to the carriage members 44. The bars I12 extend rearwardly from the fingers I10 and ride on pins I1I between walls I15 of a bracket, which support and guide them. The bars have portions I13 bent or offset so that as the carriage moves forwardly to a position to receive the blanks, the bent portions I13 ride upon the pins I1I, raising the fingers to the position shown in Fig. 5, and hence to limit the movement of the blanks rearwardly. As the carriage moves rearwardly and the blanks are released by the heating elements, the bent portions of the bars ride down over the pins, thus allowing the bars to move downwardly and hence to lower the fingers out of the path of the blanks so that the latter are engaged by the traveling belts and discharged rearwardly from the machine.

The carriage is moved forwardly and rearwardly along tracks 40 and 42 so as to receive a blank near the feeding rolls, carry it rearwardly, during which time the coating is vaporized, and then to discharge it. At the forward end of the movement of the carriage the lower clamps and heating elements are moved upwardly to press the blank against the upper heating elements and clampsand then hold them engaged during the rearward movement of the carriage. At the end of the'rearward movement of the carriage the lower clamp-s and heating elements descend and release the blank so that it is carried rearwardly and discharged by the belts. The foregoing movement is accomplished as follows. A driving bar I (Figs. 2 and 5) is pivotally connected at its rear end to the rim of a crank disc I82 and at its forward end to the shaft I18. The forward end of the driving bar is bent upwardly at I84 so that in its extreme forward position it will clear thetransverseframe fastened tothe under side of the plate.

7 plate 20; The throw of the crank disc governs the length of the reciprocation of the carriage forwardly and rearwardly.- Since the stop fingers III] are connected to the members I16 they have the same forward and rearward movement as the carriage. At the forward end of the movement of carriage the lowerclamps 6-3; andheatingelements 62 are raised into engagement with the upper ones to grip the blank. To eiiect the vertical-movement there is pivotally fastened to each driving bar I86- a rearwardly extending arm I86 having a flat terminal portion I88. Onthe under side o'f'eachplate 58 (Fig; i) there is fixed a'leg I96 to the lower end of which is pivotally joined an arm I9; which extends transversely inward above the terminal I88. The arms I92 extend inwardly from opposite sides of themachine and each'arm has on it an ear I94 through which passes a threaded stud N6, the latter being ing the studs 96, the arms I92 may be raised or lowered with reference to the terminal portion I88 of the arm :86 and hence to bring about elevation of the clamps and heaters at an earlier or later position in the reciprocation of the carriage. In order to avoid too positive closing of the clamps and heating elements, a yielding connectionis interposed in the linkage. This consists of a rod I98 pivotally connected at one end to each of thearms I86. The opposite end of the rod extends through an ear 2G6 fast to the driving rod I 86. A spring 232. surrounds the rod I68, one end bearing against the ear 266 and the other against the shoulder 204 on the rod. Hence when the arm, I86 is brought to bear in the arms I92 so as to apply an upward thrust thereto and hence to raise the lower clamps and heating elements, it is yieldable in character. The linkage is con.- structed so that as the carriage moves to its full forward position, the lower clamps and heatingelements will be yieldably raised into engagement with the upper and held engaged therewith. As the carriage moves rearwardly there would be a tendency for the lower clamps and heating elements to move away from the upper clamps and heating elements exceptiorthe springs 202 which hold the clamps. and heating elements engaged throughout the rearward movement. At the rear end of. its movement the arm. :86 is-drawn down far, enough so that even through extended by the s ring 282, the terminal I82 no longer engages the levers I92 which then drop down, allowing the lower clamps and heating .elementsto separate from the upper clamps and heating elements.

The crank disc, belt and feed rolls are driven by suitable connections to a motor (not shown). As illustrated, the shaft I68 derives its rotation from a chain 2IEI entrained about a sprocket 2I2 fast thereto, which chain extends rearwardly for engagement with a sprocket (not shown) on a countershait driven by the motor. The shaft I68 has on it a second sprocket ZId over which is entrained a chain, 2H5 and this passes about a sprocket 238 fast to a countershaft 89, thereby effecting rotation of that shaft. A gear 22I on the shaft 89 meshes with a gear 226 on the shaft 88, eiiecting rotation of the latter.

In operation, a stack of blanks which are to be processed are placed on the inclined bottom of the hopper and pushed forwardly so that the bottom blank extends inwardly beneath the feed discs 90. The electric switches 66 are then turned on to position and the'motor switchis tripped tostart the machine. The teed discs 96 By turnwill begin-to rotate and will pick up ablank, 'c'ar -r yit forward between the feed rolls I62 and I66 onto theupper surfaceo'f'the belt I26; At the same time, the carriage upon which are mounted the clamps and heating-elements, will be advancing tolreceive the blank, andapproximately at the time when the carriage reaches its forward position, the blank will have been fed between the clamps and heating elements into contact with the stops I76 so as to be in registry with the heating elements which come together at this point, pressing the blank between them. While still engaged between the clamps and heating elements', the carriage moves rearwardly and at about the point at which it reaches its rearmost position the lower clamps and heating elements are lowered to release the blank, the stops I'Ill are retracted and the blank is moved rearwardly and discharged from'the machine by the cooperating belts I55 and I26.

The heating circuit is arranged so that when the switches 66 are turned to their on position the heating elements are continuously supplied with energy to keep the clamps continuously at a high temperature. This is necessary because of the cooling effect of theblanks on the heating elements which pass'through the machine at a high rate. A rangeof 356 to 550 Watts is necessary to to keepthe heating elements hot enough to operate satisfactorily. Switches and/0r variableresistancesof conventional kind may be provided for theimlfpose of varying the amount of heat and hence are not shownlin detail herein.

Itshould be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for operating on precoated fiat box blanks comprisingspaced elementsarranged to receive between them a blank, means foreilecting movementof said element to and from each other for engagement with portions of the opposite faces of a blank placed between them and to have contact with the blank at predetermined places, means for supplying heat to said elements to heat them, to a-temperatu-re sufiiciently high to volatilize thecoating on the engaged portions of theblank, and-blank feeding means operable in timed relation to the movement of said elements intoand outof engagement fol-delivering a blank between saidelements priorto their movement toward each other forengagement with the blank, and then; extracting the blank therefrom following movement of the elements-away from each other andprior to delivery of the next blank to be operated upon to the elements.

2; A machine for operating on 'precoated flat box blanks comprising longitudinally andla'teral- 1y spaced pairs ofvertically spaced clamps arrangedto-reeeive between thema' flat box blank, saidpairs of clamps being located to engage portions of the "blank near its" corners, means for eifectingrelativemovement of the palrsof clamps to engage said'portion of the blank and for heating the clamps sufiiciently to volatilize the coatingiand then to disengage the blank, means for feedingiblanksto and from the clamps in timed :relation' with the movement of the clamps to introduce a' blank between and remove a blank fromthe clamps when they are disengaged, and meansifor effecting independent adjustment of the. pairs of clamps longitudinally and trans-- lvers'ely to acconimodate blanks of different size.

3. A machine for operating on precoated box blanks comprising longitudinally and laterally spaced pairs of vertically spaced clamps arranged to receive between them a flat box blank, said pairs of clamps being located to engage portions of the blank near its corners, means for effecting to and fro reciprocation of said clamp bodily along a predetermined path, means for effecting relative movement of the clamps to and from each other to bring them into engagement with the blank and then to release it, said latter reciprocation being timed so that the closing of the clamps substantially coincides with the forward end of their movement and the separation of the clamps with the rear end of their movement, means for heating the clamps while engaged with the blank, to volatilize the coating on the blank, and means for delivering blanks one at a time to the clamps at the forward end of their movement and discharging them from the clamps at the rear end of their movement.

4. A machine for operating on precoated box blanks, comprising longitudinally and laterally spaced pairs of vertically spaced clamps, means for effecting linear reciprocation of the clamps bodily forwardly and rearwardly through a predetermined path, means for raising and lowering the lower clamps into and out of engagement with the upper clamps, said means being timed to effect clamping engagement of the clamps with the blank at the forward end of the linear movement of the clamps, and separation of the clamps at the rear end of their linear movement, means for heating the clampsduring the rearward portion of their linear movement sufliciently to va porize the coating, and means to deliver blanks one at a time to said clamps and then discharge them therefrom.

5. In a machine for operating on precoated box blanks, vertically spaced clamps arranged to be brought into engagement with the surface portions of a blank near its corners, means for effecting movement of the clamps into and out of engagement, means for advancing a blank between the clamps, a limit stop movable into a position to be engaged by the leading edge of the blank as it enters between the clamps to bring it to a stop in register with said clamps, said limit stop being movable to an out-of-the-way position following disengagement of the clamps, means for effecting operation of the stop in timed relation with the movement of the clamps, and means for withdrawing the released blank from between the clamps.

6. In a machine for operating on precoated box blanks, vertically spaced clamps arranged to be brought into engagement with the'surface portions of the blank near its-corners and to be heated during engagement therewith to volatilize the coating and then to separate, means foreffecting movement of the clamps into and out of engagement, a conveyor for advancing blanks successively to the'clamps and delivering them therefrom following separation of the clamps, means for effecting continuous operation of the conveyor, stops movable into a position to stop each blank in registry with the open clamps as it is delivered therebetween in opposition to the feeding movement of the conveyor until the clamps engage the same, said stops being movable out of engagement with the blank upon separation of the clamps to permit the conveyor to carry the blank rearwardly from between the clamps, and means for effecting operation of the stops in timed relation with the clamp 7. A, machine for-operating on precoated box blanks, means movable into and out of engage: ment with predetermined portions-of blanks fed successively thereto to remove the coatingtherefrom, and feeding means close to the first-named means foradvancing blanks one at a time from a pile of blanks to said first-named means, comprising an inclined support upon which a pile of blanks rest, discs arranged near the lower end of the support for rotation about an axis parallel to the lower edge ofthe support, means for effecting rotation of the discs, a shoe carried by each disc and rotatable therewith, means hingedly securing one edge of the shoe to the disc and yieldable means yieldably holding its opposite end raisedfrom the peripheral surfaceoif; the disc. i i i 8. A machine for operating on precoated box blanks, means movable into and out of; engagement with predetermined portionof the blank to remove the coatingtherefrom, and feeding means close to the first-named means for: ad,- vancing blanks one ata time from apile of blanks comprising an inclined support upon which-the blanks rest, discs arranged near the lower end of the support for rotation about an; axis parallel to the lower end thereof, means for: effecting rotation of the discs, a shoe carried byeach disc and rotatable therewith, said shoe having a portion thereof raised from the peripheral surface of the disc and yieldable substantially radially of the disc, said raised portion being arranged to wipe over the lower end of thesupportas it moves thereby to engagea blankrresting on said support, to advance the blank from thesupport.

9. A machine for operating on a-precoated box blank, means movable into-and out of engagement with predetermined portions of the blank to remove the coating therefrom, and feeding means close to the first-named means for advancing blanks one at a time from a pile of blanks, comprising an inclined support upon which the blanks rest, discs arranged near the lower end of the support for rotation about an axis parallel to the lower end thereof with their peripheries spaced from the surface of the lower end of the support .by anamount greater than the thicknessof a single blank, means for effect ing rotation of the discs, a shoe carried by each disc and rotatable therewith, said shoe being pivotally mounted on the disc for substantially radial movement of its freerend outwardly from its peripheral surface, and being yieldablyheld distended so as to wipe over the lower end of the support as itmovesby the support. l

10. A machine for operating on paraffin coated box blanks comprising a carriage reciprocable to and fro in a predetermined path,'.means. for effecting reciprocation of .j the carriage, spaced clamping means on the carriage arranged to receive betweenthema flatboxblank, l'n'ie'ans forlefiectingmovementof the clamping means relative 'to each other on'the carriage to grip a box blank therebetween and then to release it, said last-named means being timed with the reciprocation of the carriage to engage the blank at the forward end of. its reciprocation and to release the blank at the rear end of its reciprocation, means for heating the clamps to volatilize the coating, means for delivering blanks to the clamps on the carriage and for removing the blanks therefrom following removal of the coating, and means for adjusting the spacing of the clamps both transversely and longitudinally of the carriage.

11. A machine for operating on precoated box blanks to remove the coating from portions thereof, a carriage reciprocable to and fro in a predetermined path, means for delivering a blank to the carriage at one end of its movement, means for withdrawing the blank from the carriage at the other end of its movement, clamps on the carriage between which a blank delivered to the carriage is positioned for clamping engagement during movement of the carriage from the place of delivery to the place of discharge, said clamp engaging only those portions of the blank from which the coating is to be removed, and means for heating the clamps while the carriage moves toward the place of discharge.

12. A machine for operating on precoated box blanks to remove the coating lfrom portions thereof, comprising a carriage reciprocable to and fro in a predetermined path from a place of blank delivery to a place of blank discharge, means for effecting reciprocation of the carriage, means at the place of delivery (for delivering blanks one at a time to the carriage as it moves to said place of delivery, means for withdrawing the blanks from the carriage at the place of discharge, clamps on the carriage between which a blank delivered to the carriage is positioned for clamping engagement during movement of the carriage to the place of discharge, said clamps engaging only those portionsof the blank from which the coating is to be removed, means for heating the clamps, and means for adjusting the clamps longitudinally on the carriage to provide for blanks of different size.

13. A machine for operating on precoated box blanks to remove the coating from portions thereof, a carriage reciprocable to and fro in a predetermined path from a place of blank delivery to a place of blank discharge, means for effecting reciprocation of the carriage, means at the place of delivery for delivering blanks one at a time to the carriage as it moves to the position-of delivery, means for withdrawing the blanksfrom the carriage at the place of discharge, said carriage consisting of transversely spaced carriage frames movable to and fro longitudinally in unison and independently movable transversely, means for effecting-transverse movement of the carriage frames independently ,to change the distance between them, clamps and heating elements mounted on each carriage frame, said clamps elements at the place of discharge.

14. A machine for operating on precoated box blanks to remove the coating from portions there of, a carriage reciprocable to and fro in apredetermined path from a place of blank delivery to a place of blank discharge, means for effecting reciprocation of a carriage, means at the place of delivery for deliveringblanks one at a'time to the carriage as it is moved to the place of delivery, means for withdrawing the blanks from the'carriag'e to the place of discharge, vertically spaced clamps and heating elements at each'side of .the carriage, the lower clamps and heating elements being movable upwardly into clamping engagement with the upper heating elements and clamps, and means operable by movement of the carriage to the place of delivery to bring the clamps and heating elements together on the blank and by movement to the place of discharge toretract the clamps and heating elements to release the blank. t

15. In a machine for operating on precoated box blanks to remove the coating from portions thereof, means for supplying heat to portions of the blank from which the "coating is to be removed, a conveyor for delivering one blank at a time to said heating means, means for effecting continuous movement of the conveyor, stop means atthe heating means movable into the path of the blank on the conveyor to bring it to stop in registry with the heating means, and means for retracting the stop from the path of the blank following removal of the coating to permit the traveling conveyor means to move the blank beyond the heating means to a place of discharge.

16. A machine for operating on precoat'ed box blanks to remove the coating from portions thereof, means for ..supplying heat to portions of the blank from which the coating is to be removed, a supporting conveyor upon which a blank may be placed for delivery to the heating means, means for effecting continuous movement of the conveyor, a stop at the heating means movable into the path of the blank on the conveyor to stop the blank in registry with the heating means, means for retracting the stop following removal of the icoatingfrom the blank, and a second conveyorarranged in contact with the first conveyor at the discharge side of the heating means, and means for eflecting movement of thelsecond conveyor at the same speed as the first conveyor to engage the opposite sides of the blank, withdraw it from the place of heating, and moveit to a place of discharge.

' LOUIS PERILLI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Anderson iet a1. se a's, 1940 

